Makenzie J.

Mackenzie is an Islands of Brilliance expert. She has participated in pretty much everything Islands of Brilliance has to offer since starting in 2018. So, we asked her, “Why should someone consider taking a workshop with IOB?” She answered, “Because they help you grow! They have helped me learn and grow while making it fun.” She loves Brilliant Breakfast Club (BBC). “ You get to meet new people and talk with them. There are always new things to do.”

Let’s go back to the beginning. Tanika, Makenzie’s mother, shares that they first heard of IOB in an article in the Milwaukee Journal a couple of years before she enrolled Makenzie in a workshop. It was after hearing about IOB again through participating in Girls Who Code, that she decided she had to try it out. Mackenzie jumped in with both feet! She has taken IOB’s Foundation Workshops, participated in Digital Academy projects, and continues to be an enthusiastic member of BBC.

Mackenzie is particularly proud of working with a team for a Digital Academy (DA) project where they created a sandbox video game, Builder’s Paradise. It was a project that combined her interest in coding and graphic arts. As part of online programming during the COVID pandemic, three groups worked together to create virtual islands that a player could visit. Mackenzie was part of the coding team. There was also a 3-D rendering team (Blender) and a 2-D branding team. In the end, the teams created a full demo which was shared as part of that year’s Colors & Chords celebration. One of Makenzie’s fun contributions was the addition of music to the experience, allowing the player to choose the soundtrack they heard during their visit to the islands.

Behind Makenzie, supporting her all the way is her mother, Tanika. She explains that, as a mother, she is always looking for ways to help her daughter grow and that IOB has been more than just a place to learn creative digital software. “Makenzie found her community. She has a connection to a group of people who share her challenges, experience new things, and grow together. IOB helped her expand her horizons. She has opened up so much!” Tanika credits IOB staff members for creating a warm, supportive environment that sets both Makenzie and herself at ease. Matt Juzenas, Director of Strategic Operations, said, “Tanika never settles for ‘less’ and does it in a beautifully supportive way. She has a whole person approach to encouraging Makenzie to grow and explore opportunities.”

And grow she has – talk about expanding horizons! As of summer 2023, Makenzie is studying IT software development at MATC. She truly is a girl who can code! She also has an internship with a Milwaukee City Alderwoman this summer. Once she finishes her associate’s degree in IT, she wants to also get a degree in digital arts. Her long-term goal is to work in graphic arts. Go Makenzie!